Circular multifeed hosiery knitting machine and method of operating same



Nov. 10, 1953 R. H. LAWSON ,658,365

CIRCULAR MULTIFEED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 4, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l r J a if 4 :J/

INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON 6y 7:219 aZ-Z'or'neys Filed Oct. 4, 1948 Nov. 10, 1953 R. H. LAWSON 2,658,365

CIRCULAR MULTIFEED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME 7'Sheets-Sheet 2 J INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON Nov. 10. 1953 R. H. LAWSON 2,658,365

CIRCULAR MULTIFEED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 4. 194a v Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWS ON I 5 his a lforneys Nov. 10, 1953 LAWSON 2,658,365

. CIRCULAR MULTIFEZED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE 7 AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed 001'. 4, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ROBERT H. LAWSON y 72:15 ail'ar'neya- MMJM Nov. 10, 1953 R. H. LAWSON CIRCULAR MULTIFEED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 4. 1948 lNVENTOR IV////////// {I l W L M a K L n u m. 0 fi F 4 7 4 w w ,p

4' ROBERT H.LAWSON 5y his al'larneys Nov. 10, I953 LAWSON 2,658,365 OSIERY KNITTING MACHINE OF OPERATING SAME ULTIFEED H D METHOD '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 CIRCULAR M AN Filed Oct. 4, 194a INVENTOR.

I ROBERT H. LAWSON 65 his aitorneys Nov. 10. 1953 R. H. LAWSON 2,658,365

CIRCULAR MULTIFEED HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 4, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet. 7

Q Q R INVENTOR. Q ROBERT H.LAWSON 3y 7:119 aTZerney;

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED PATENT GIROULAR M-ULTIFEED HGS IERY KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING AME Eaten ii. Lewsdn, Laconia '11. assignoito Scott- 85 Williams, Incorporated; Laeonia, N. IL,- :5, ciirfiblittifii'i 6f MaSSacl'il'iSflS Appiication October 4, 1943, Serial No. 52,764

4 This invention relates to circular iiiiiltifeed hosieiy Knitting inalliih and mctr'ic'as (if 61 r'ating same, arid more ii'ar't'iculai li tamer; ai'iisii'i fo'r' fashiohifi ffiiilti-fd fabric iii r8011)- rocatorif knitting to inali heel ahd toe packets in hosiery.

To prcdii narrowing aiid widening during the making of heel and toe hearers iii the usual single-feed independent needle circular hos'i'fil knitting machines, the needles are raised progr'ss'iil'eli out of action 1637' two lifter picksl oiie operable on each diiectioii of movement. However, a single dropper fiickl adapted to aware (in both directions of moi ihiit isf generall used to lower needles into action. With this arrangeinht it iscohil'fitional to knit the narrowed segment of a heel or toe pocket 53 rais ng 6iie' he'edle out of action at the beginning of each course.

When it comes tiin to Knit the widened segment, this action is continued and in addition the dropper pick lowers two needles into atich at the end of each course. Iii this was; the fahric is first narrowed cfie needle per course and then widened a net meant ofcfie' needle per course. This gives a lc'i's'elji-khifi siit'iir'e Between the two g'iis'st's' or s'egfiiefips (if the drdiri'alr'y hel.

E'fach lifter iiic'k' heretofore i'ised in narrow "g'; has fish-allybeen located 6h top of the cafxi ever which the needles are cleared preparatory to ent'erifig the knitting" Because a lower face of that is' used a; knit on a stroke of the machine, it will he ob erved that the lifterpicks are never in the path of the needles in a Iiiiittiiig wave approaching from" the opposite direction. I

To carry this" general arrangement of picking iii fisrrcwmg' and widening over into thejfiak'ing of heel and we pocretspy mum-reed knitting several difficulties. Using the conventional tw'o fitter" picks and, one dropper pick fer each osciiiaticri in inulti-fed machines, it is necessary to narrow for more one course at the same time. This means that two needles ave to be raised out of action together. Aii objectionable ficat or tie-across stitch is produced by this operation. Furthermore, the raising of two' flee-- dles together pro-eases eyelets at the Suture. This is due to the fact that only one decree of g ro retains; its si'litches' till widfiiii'g"; I have discoveredhow to construct a circular mill-ti feed hosiery knitting machine so as to knit a replica of the narrowed side ofthe' suture of a conventional heel or toe pocket made on a single-feed machine. Inmy multi-feed machine 1' narrow by elevating the leading needle to in- 2 active level at the start of each course, this way 'a. series of successive courses of fah'r'icaie each individually narrowed a s ngle oscillanon br ne machine. 1 ihoiirit' and manipulate the picks of riiachin iii "such a way that a greater variety oi constructions is sesame on the narrowed and wideiied sides a: the suture in iiiiie'rht directions a At least iie of each pair of these lifter p ers is located htweii each we stitch ea'nis the group of knitting earns in the path of ascending needle Butts, i. (5;, in the knitt'ing were. I p ance clearing cams under sevral stitch-drawing surfaces, each siich clearing can andthesftitch-drawing surface under which it is located Being sloped so that thei are effective 6h needle movements bi bosit'e directions. l locate clearing cans to operate under the stitchdrawin'g surfaces except the endones of the entire 'gi'oiip. I so locate these piers and shape the ca'xn's that many ohe direction of niovinent of the needles they contact a girenlifter pick and n the other direction the? bass aboifeor berow that pick. In addition, the lifter picks can be made ineperatiyeselectively without interfering with the remaining picks.

My invention will be shown and described embodied in the well-known Scott & Williams type of revolvingneedle cylinder independent needle circular hosiery knitting machine in which I have put two feeds; but it should be understood that it is equally applicable to such machines having three' or more reeds. A two-reed machine or" this" ge eraitype' is 'showii m ne Law'sei-i Patent- No. 2 ,440 280, dated April 27, 1-948.

In the drawings: w

Figure 1' isa plan i ie'v'si of one-half of the earn nag and lifter" picks of a two=fed scc'tt & William's hosiery knitting hiachiiie made in ac.- ccraance with dn eihbddifneiit of my inx'fe'iiti'cn, smsv'v'mg' the needles moving counterclockwise, one needle butt being shown raised out of ace tion by the outer lifter; pick of the pair at the right-handfeed. Another needle is shown-about to contact the inner lifter pick of the pair at the left-hand feed. The top of the center stitch cam is shown broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the construction of Fig. taken from the center of the machine with the needle butts omitted.

Figure 3 is a development of the knitting cams of Figs. 1 and 2 as seen from the center of the machine with needle butts moving from right to left, i. e., counterclockwise. The solid line showings of all the lifter picks illustrate their positions as the first needle butt of the active segment of needles contacts the outer lifter pick at the right-hand feed, while the dotted arrows and showings of the picks indicate their path; of travel as the leading active needle is lifted out of action at that feed, and their positions at the end of that lift. The number of needles and their spacing is only diagrammatic.

Figure 4 is a development similar to Fig. 3. showing in solid lines the positions of the parts as the leading active needle at the left-hand feed contacts the inner lifter pick. The dotted arrow and showing of the picks at that feed illustrate the movements of those picks while that needle is being lifted, and their position at the completion of that lift.

Figure 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the outer lifter pick at the right-hand feed, showing the adjustment of the parts so that this pick will pick up two needles.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the cam ring and lifter picks and their controls in a modified embodiment in which there is mechanism to change the number of needles lifted by the inner lifter picks in addition to the outer lifter picks, as in Figs. 1 to 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the construction of the right-hand feed of Fig. 6, seen from the outside of the machine, the inner lifter pick being ready to raise a single needle butt.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outer lifter L pick of the lefthand feed of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the parts in solid lines when the pick is positioned to engage only a single needle at a time, and showing in dotted lines the position of the swivel cam when the pick is to raise two needles at a time.

Figure 9 is a plan view of part of the cam ring and lifter picks of a two-feed embodiment of my invention using a modified form of inner lifter picks, the parts being shown with the inner picks in position to be engaged by needle butts. The top of the center stitch cam is shown broken away.

Figure 10 is a developed view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the modified inner lifter picks of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view from the center of the machine, of the left-hand feed of the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10, showing the inner lifter pick in position to be engaged by a needle butt.

Figure 12 is a view in vertical section through the cam ring of Fig. 1 at the inner lifter pick of the left-hand feed, taken on the line I2-I2 of that figure.

Figure 13 is a development of part of the needle circle of the modification of Figs. 6 and 7, showing in solid lines the leading active needle engaging the inner lifter pick at the left-hand feed after passing under the double center stitch cam. The pick is adjusted for a single needle lift. The figure also shows a sinker and part of its path in the usual sinker cap and indicates by a line 69 the approximate end of the robbing area under the center stitch cam.

Fig. 13A shows on a smaller scale than Fig. 13 the sinker wave SID developed by the sinker and cams of Fig. 13 at both feeds.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of part of the bedplate, lifter picks and associated cams and controls of a modified form of my invention adapted to make the inner lifter picks ineffective to raise needles out of action during the widening operation.

Figure 15 is a development of the knitting cams and lifter and dropper picks of the modification of Fig. 14, some of the dotted line showings of the inner lifter picks illustrating the positions of those picks when they have been swivelled by a needle during widening.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the righthand feed of an embodiment adapted not only to vary the lips of the inner lifter pick presented to lift needles as shown in Fig. 8, but also to idle the pick as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Circular weft-knit heel and tie pockets generally consist of what may be termed a plurality of fashioned or tapered gussets. These pockets may consist of combinations of narrowed gussets and widened gussets, or either kind alone. The conventional heel or toe pocket has a narrowed gusset and a widened gusset joined together along fashioned edges by a suture. This may be termed a double-sided suture because both gusset edges or sides of the suture are fashioned. Single-sided sutures are also known, i. e., ones in which only one gusset edge or side is fashioned, the adjacent edge of the fabric being a single course or sometimes a single wale. The U. S. patent to Harry N. Sheppard No. 2,388,649, dated November 6, 1945, shows some single-sided sutures in which the gusset edge that is fashioned is a narrowed one. The machine of my present invention is useful in making either single or double-sided sutures by multi-feed reciprocatory knitting.

The invention will be shown embodied in a Scott & Williams independent needle hosiery knitting machine having the usual needle cylinder 260 which rotates and reciprocates inside a cam ring 2'. The needles N move vertically in the slots in the needle cylinder, their butts projecting into cam paths in the cam cylinder, as hereinafter set forth. The cam ring and needle cylinder are supported inside the usual bedplate B and are driven from standard driving parts. As explained in the Robert W. Scott U. S. Patent No. 1,152,850, dated September 7, 1915, the machine is under the general control of a pattern chain and pattern drum (not shown). As already mentioned, the example shown in the drawings is a two-feed machine, i. e., it makes two courses of stitches for each revolution or oscillation of the needle cylinder. For this purpose there is a group of three stitch cams in the machine-a double center stitch cam 50 flanked by end stitch cams 360, 3!. These end stitch cams 360 and 36! are of the usual shape for Scott & Williams single-feed hosiery machines. They are each shaped and located so as to clear needles when it is the leading cam and to knit when it is in the following or trailing position.

The double center stitch cam 50 is of novel shape and function. It is shaped to knit on both directions of movement of the needles. This cam is a double one sloping downwardly toward the center from each side. The two surfaces SI, 52 are both at about 45 from the horizontal and each surface constitutes an operating or stitchdrawing face. These two cam or stitch-drawing Masses .5 surfaces 52 do not meet at the bottom of the cam but terminate at separate points 53 and 56. The two points are separated from each other a distance equal approximately to saythe width of seven or eight needles as they are mounted in the needle cylinder (see Fig. 13). For example, in a soil-needle, 3%" cylinder machine, these two points would be approximately 4" apart. In the stitch cam of the ordinary singlefeed Scott & Williams model K machine, the back face of the cam, i. e., the raising side, is sloped only about 23 from the horizontal. This low angle gives time for the sinkers to be reinserted after the draw-down point to hold the stitches down by means of the nebs of the sinkers before the friction of the rising needles can force the fabric above the nebs of the sinkers. However, in the new double stitch cam both sloping surfaces must be used as stitch-drawing surfaces,

so each face is of necessity from the horizontal. It follows that the needles rise faster than in a single-feed machine, and "unhooking of the stitches sometimes occurs. The separatie-n of the two points 53, 54 relieves this by giving the sinkers S time to come in and hold the stitches down before they get above the nebs. With these separated points the first point met acts as the draw-down or stitch point and the second point met acts as-the knocking-over point.

It will be noted that the second point is located :1

after the knitting has left the robbing area, which is normally considered as existing immediately after the draw point.

It has been found that in knitting fine-gauge fabric at high speed, any infinitesimal downward movement of the needles between the two points may cause cutting of the yarn. The bottom of the cam has therefore been shown with an upward arch or relief 58 between the two points 53', 54. In order to be sure the needles do not by any chance fail to take advantage of this relief 58, a complemented hump 55 has been put on the usual bottom center cam 55 directly underneath the double-pointed stitch cam. In

this way the needles are compelled to give relief 4 to the yarn. It will be noted that the needles, in passing over the second point after a slight relief, bring the stitches back to the draw-point level momentarily, tending to make uniform again any irregularities which may have occurred since the first draw point was passed. The double stitch cam also has shoulders 51 on each side above the stitch drawing surfaces 5!, 52 which serve as check or cover cams when the needles are rising. These cams prevent the needles from jumping over the next stitch cam.

The two feed points of the machine can be said to be located between the shoulders of the double center cam 56 and the draw-down or knitting face of each end stitch cam 360, 361.

I will first describe the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, 8 and 12'. Formed from the lower edge of the cam path for the needle butts and between the center stitch cam 50 and the right-hand stitch cam 361 is what may be termed a central clearing cam l for the right-hand feed. There is a similar central clearing cam 2 between the center stitch cam 50 and the left-hand stitch cam 360 for the left-hand feed. Each central clearing cam is lower than the upper ends of the I adjacent stitch-drawing surfaces of the center and end stitch cams. The low clearing cam surfaces of these cams are each characteristically located under a stitch-drawing surface which is eifective on the opposite direction of movement 6 of the needles from the effective direction for the clearing cam. Each clearing cam is adjacent to and connects with the hump on the bottom center cam 56. The upper end of each central clearing cam is set back on each side to form setbacks 3, 4, 5, 5. Each cam narrows down to a short hat I, 8 at the top.

There is a pair of lifter picks for each feed, the usual or outer lifter pick and a novel inner lifter pick. The free or operating end of each of the so-called innerliiter picks 652, 653 is located between the center and end stitch cams. The inner and outer lifter picks 650, L 652, 653 are each carried on a post 9 on the bedplate B. Each lifter pick is pivotally mounted in a housing I, H swivelled on one of the posts. There are springs 12 tending to hold the free ends of these lifter picks down.

'The raisin of the four lifter picks is eflected by cams I3, l4, l5, l5 (Fig. 2). This vertical component of movement occurs when the picks are given a horizontal swivelling movement through contact with the butts of the needles N as the needle cylinder turns. The cams I3, 14 for the left and right-hand outer lifter picks 550, 551 are fixedly mounted on the posts 9. The cams l5, It for the inner lifter picks 652, 653 are formed on the cam ring fill. The outer end of the housing I!) of each outer lifter pick is joined to the outer end of the housing ll of the inner lifter pick at the same feed point of the machine by a lost-motion linkage H. The free or operating ends of the outer lifter picks 650, 65l lie in the usual notch in the upper face of the regular right and left-hand stitch cams 36!}, 36| when positioned to receive the needle butts. They opcrate on needles which are being cleared over the end stitch earn 360 or 36!. The construction of all the picks is such that when a needle butt engages and causes one of the picks to swivel, it is pushed to an up position by its cam l3, l4, l5, l6. Simultaneously the linkage l1 and the spring l2 cause the companion lifter pick to be lowered to its operative position. Thus it will be noted that there are two lifter picks cooperating together at one feed so that when one raises a needle out of action, the other pick is moved down into its operative position by a movement which has both a swivelling component and a vertical or lifting component of movement. It will be noted that each pair of lifter picks, namely, one inner and one outer pick, is associated with the one feed point and that the inner pick is adapted to operate in one direction of movement of th needle cylinder and the outer pick in the opposite direction of movement of the needle cylinder. Thus each lifter pick is adapted to act on a movement opposite to that in which its companion acts. It will also be noted that while the outer pick is in only the clearing path of the needle butts, the inner pick not only lies in the clearing path of the needles in one direction of movement but actually lies underneath the knitting wave in the reverse direction. Each inner lifter pick lies in the path of, and is operative on, needles rising from the center cam. It picks leading needles out of action after they have passed under the center stitch cam and before they pass under the end stich cam.

The stationary cam l6 for the left-hand inner lifter pick 652 and the complementary cam at the right-hand feed for the inner lifter pick 653 are sloped upwardly in a direction away fromthe double center cam 50 to a flat l3 slightly above the top of the adjacent end stitch cam 360 or "I. This flat I8 is also 50 located circumferentially with relation to the pivot points of the lifter picks that when the free end of either of the lifter picks at any feed swings up onto the fiat, it has moved away pivotally out of contact with the needle butts and will remain on the fiat in its upper or idl position, When one of these picks is in its lowermost position, one of the cams assists in holding the free end of the lifter pick with its lip opposite the flat I or 8 of the clearing cam I or 2. When an outer lifter pick 65I, 650 is swivelled toward the center stitch cam 50, the cam I3 r I4 raises it up above the flat I8 011 the lifter pick cam I5 or I6. Thus, owing to the lostmotion linkage I1, the two lifter picks at any one feed alternate in their use of the space above flat I8 as their idle position. The inner picks actually rest on the flat II! when in this position but the outer picks clear the flat by some distance, as shown (see Fig. 4).

Because of the shoulders or set-backs 3, 4, 5, 6 in the central clearing cams, any needles descending th center cam 50 or the lower face I9 on the end stitch cam 360 or 36I take a different path from needles ascending the central clearing cam. Because of the picks 652, 653 being located in these set-backs, the descending needles pass above those picks but the ascending needles contact them. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, 8 and 12, the free end of each inner lifter pick, when in its operative position, is opposite the top of the clearing cam with its lip 28 level with the flat I on the right-hand clearing cam I or the flat 8 on the left-hand clearing cam 2. In each case the lip faces toward the preceding stitch cam. Thus the pick associated with clearing cam I between the center cam 50 and the right-hand end stitch cam 36I faces to the left as it appears in Fig. 1. The pick associated with clearing cam 2 located between the center cam 50 and the lefthand end stitch cam 360 faces toward the right in the same figures. Thus the lips 20 of the inner lifter picks never face the end stitch cams.

The flats I and 8 on the top of the central clearing cams I, 2 are of suflicient height to clear any needles which ride over them. Thus all active needles which ride up one of these two central clearing cams will be cleared regardless of whether or not the free end of the pick is opposite the flat 1 or 8. The tops of these clearing cams are thinner than the bottoms, as can be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 12. While the ends of the picks thus lie partly covered or overlapped by the tops of the clearing cams, the butts of the needles are all long enough to reach over the tops of the clearing cams into the path of the ends of the lifter picks. This will be seen at the left-hand inner pick 852 in Fig. 1 or in the showing in Fig. 12.

There is the usual widening pick or dropper 580 and guard cam 6 (see Fig. in all the embodiments of my invention. It is located at a point circumferentially opposite the double center stitch cam 50. The dropper pick is shown with two lips 68 I 682 on each side. With a double lip construction I provide controls enabling its operative end to be held either in an upper or a lower position where it will engage and pick down needles on both lips 68I, 682 or only on the upper lip 68L The width of the lips may be varied as desired to take down the requisite number of needles for the particular picking sequence desired, as hereinafter set forth. In Fig. 15 the lower lip 682 is shown of a width for a single 8 needle, while th upper lip I is shown of a width for two needles.

Needles may be raised to the idle level where they will b contacted by the guard cam I8 and properly presented to the dropper pick either entirely by the lifter picks Or through the intermediary of stationary auxiliary cams 43, 44 (Fig. 15) located circumferentially between the lifter pick raising cams and the dropper pick. These auxiliary cams contact the needles raised by the lifter pick and raise them to a uniform level for presentation to either one or the other end of guard cam 4 I 8.

I have found it possible to vary the number of needles raised by the lifter picks. I wish to point out in general that in accordance with my invention it is not only possible to vary the total number of needles raised out of action on any given oscillation of the machine, but it is also possible to cause such raising either by both or only one of the lifter picks on each oscillation. I will describe not only the adjusting of the inner lifter picks to vary the number of needles raised out of action, but also the mechanisms by which the inner lifter picks may be thrown out of action during the making of the widened segment. I find that these methods of manipulating the picks give highly desirable sutures and a variety of suture and segment shapes not heretofore obtainable in a single-feed machine.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 8, I will describe the means by which the number of needles lifted out of action by the outer lifter picks 650, 65I can be varied. The free or operating end of the right outer lifter pick 65I has upper and lower lips 2|, 22. When the position of the pick is such that the leading active needle moves into the upper lip 2i, it will be obvious that the second needle butt will be raised in the lower lip 22 and two needles will be raised out of action. On the other hand, if the butt of the leading active needle engages the lower lip 22, only one needle will be raised. The left-hand outer pick 650 has similar lips. To vary the position of the right-hand pick with relation to the right-hand stitch cam 38I, a swivelled cam piece 23 is provided. This cam piece is swivelly mounted on the cam ring 2' (Fig. 5). When in upright position similarly to the swivel piece 28 shown in Fig. 8, it holds the lower lip 22 in line with the approaching needle butts. When it is tilted toward the center cam 58, as shown in Fig. 5, it allows the spring I2 to hold the free end of the pick down at such a level that the butt of the leading active needle will engage in the upper lip 2|. To move this cam piece 23 from one position to the other, there is a link 24 joined to a horizontal disk 25 at a point oficenter. This disk is carried by a vertical pin 26 on the bedplate B of the machine (see Fig. 1). The disk in turn is operated by a wire link 21 going by means of suitable connections to the main pattern drum (not shown), and the link is moved by the cams, or absence of them, on the main pattern drum. There is a similar cam piece 28 and connecting link 29 also fastened to the disk 25 controlling the operating position of the left outer pick 650 similarly.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 13 I have shown a modification in which not only the outer lifter picks 850, 65I are adjustable, but also the inner lifter picks 654, 655. For this purpose I provide swivelled cam pieces 30, 3| fastened to the cam ring 2' underlying the lower or operative position of the free ends of the picks. When these swivelled pieces are upright, as shown for instance in Figs.

93. 7' and 1'3", the picks 654, 655, in their operating positions present onlyth'e 1owerlip'32, while whenthose swivell'ed pieces" are tipped in a manner similar to the swivelled piece for the outer pick shown in Fig. 5', the pick'will be in its lowermost position and the-upper lip 3 3 will be the first one; to be contacted by a needle butt. The lips 33' shown in these figureseach are wide enough to take only a singleneedle'; Therefore when the swivell'edpiece 30 or 3! istipped; two needles" will be raised by the corresponding innerlifter pick and when it is in the upright position of Fig. '7, only one needle will he raised at'a time. Obviously, of course, thew-idths oftlie lips can be varied soas topick a total of" three or four needles, if desired: Ihese swivelled pieces: are; operated by links 34', 35' connecting to a second disk' 39 on thesame vertical pin 2'6 whi'ch carries the disk 25 for theoutenlifter pick adjustments. A- wire 38-runnih'g' to another cam path on the mainpattern drum can be used to turn the disk.

In Fig. 13 is alsoshown the-relationof the double-pointed cam to the sinkers a'nd theusual sinker cam cap used in this and other construetions accordingto-my invention. l t will be seen that the cam path forthe si'nkers is such: that said sinkers are withdrawn at the first or: draw point 54 of the cam. After the sinkers pass the line ES which indicates the end of? the robbing area they are fully inserted not later than the time that the needles: rise sotha't the stitches on them reach the'sinker nebs; This action. causes the knockedover or castofif stitch to: be pushed in back: of the needle: and also preventsunhooking ofthestitch'es. astheneedles-rise on the clear ingoam.

With the modification of Figs. 6;? and:v 13 it will'heseen that'either one, two*ormore.needles: can be liftedout of-action at eachcoursepnamely; a" total of either two, four or more needles for: each oscillation:

I will now describe the mechanism by: which: the "inner' lifter picks can-be "thrown out of action? as far as concerns lifting needles themselves-L This involves eliminating oneof the components of movement of those picks; issh'own in Figs. 14 and 15 InFig. 14 I:. have chosen to render the. inner'lifter" picks 6523.65 3 inactive during the wid'eningfof the-heel" At the same' time they retain their function. of T resetting: the-outen lifter picks'oneach. oscillation of the. machine. Similarly: to: the-first emb'odimentyithe: inner picks 65 24.65? andthe:outer picksfififli 651' are cOnne'cted by'adJ'ustable=lost-motion:links.-. [71w so that i one": inner pick 652i and: its: companion" outer pick 65!! are-linked togethergand therother' orri'ght inner pick 9'53 and its: companion outer lifter-pick- 65B are linked together.'. By-"meansiofi the lost-motion hnksz Ha; the=swive1lingiot swing, ing' of one-pick when contacted byraneed'le buttz resets its mate for: thefollowingioscillation inlthe other' direction';

In Fig. 14 there are'camslfi, 4'] for givingth'e inner lifter. picks B52, 653 their vertical component of movement so as to raise needles to v the inoperative position. These camsare pivotally mounte'd on thecam ring 2H and their-position is'cont'rolled by-means oflinks 4t connectingthemto a disk 49 mounted on the vertical operating pinon the bedpl'ate B3 The operative positionof the-cams is adjusted by eccentric buttons 65i- 'Ihe'turningof the disk is'caused by awire- 4'0'attachedtoany convenient control mechanismin the machine; such for example? asthe' main; pattern drum (not shown) The. construction It will benoted thatthese movable cams; 41" when raised merely provide the lifting" component of movement for the innerlifter picks; When the-cams 46; 4 1 are-loweredtliepicks'ride on horizontal stationary c'am' surfaces El, 42 formed on the'cam' ring.

When it'isdesired to make the two inner lifter picks inactive as far as concerns needles raised out of action duringthe making of a widened segment, the-sequence of operations is as follows. During the narrowing, both the inner and outer lifter picks at each feeding point are in operation, raising one needle each. When thew'idening is reached; it is desired tothrow' two of the narrowing picks out of action and tobrin'g into action a widening pick adapted to lower three needles at a time; In this way three needles" are added" at each oscillation and one needle Suht'r-acte'd", giving a net increase'of twoneedle's' at eachoscillation: To put the lifter picks in this condition the'disk 49* is turned clockwise by the Wire acting under the influence of a cam" on the main pattern drum, thereby lowering" the lifter pick cams 46; H to their inoperative position. With these pivoted pickcams lowered out of action when the inner lifter picks 6521 653'" are contacted by oncoming needles; they merely swing or swivel in a horizontal plane" along the surfaces 41, 4'2 and do not raise any needles; This horizontal motion of the" pick, although it does notraise needles, does reset its companion )uter lifter pick to'it's'o'p'e'rat'ive position. With" his set -up' itiwill be seen that the desiredre'sult of on'en'eedl'e taken out of action at each oscillation of the machineis ohtained. Assuming. that he active group of' needles is approaching the ant-hand pair" of lifterpicks; as shownin' Fig; Li, the first needle will be raised'out of action hy the right-hand outer'pick set to join the-group or'inactive needles; (In Figs. 1' arid'2 this is the" pick at the: left side of the figurea) The remainder of thegroup of'activeneedles will pass un'derr theouter picka ndbeled down under the shoulder 51 of 'th'e db'ub'le center cam 53? There" they w-illi be pulled down toa positio'n just above the inner lift'er pick andunder the double center cam. It will beoh'served thatowin'g tothe set-backsand the shoulder 51, in spite of" the placing of theinner'lifter pick below the center cam; needlespassing the center" stitch cam from rlg-ht to left take a different path from needles; passing from left' to-right; Asviewed in Fig; 1 Where the pick 'GSZ ison thele'ft, only the needles moving 'from rightto'left will contact that inner lifter pick 652. The situation is analogous at the other side of thecenter cam 59" when the needles are movingih the other direction".

After passing' unde'r the double center stitch cam; the nee'dle'sare raised at the left-hand I clearing cam-2 j Whe'n'they willride into the shoul derfi and engage-theinner'liftei' pick 652" (see Fig: 27. However, when the'pivotedinner'lifter pick cam lt i's ih itslow'er'o'r inoperative position;

the inn-er lifter pick thereupon merelyswivels comeup the'left hand clearing cam 2 andintotheshoulder 6 engaging'the left-hand lifter pick will lee-raised sufficiently out of" action so that 1 when" released" from the lifter" pick it will engage a stationary cam 43 (see Fig. 14) which may be termed an auxiliary needle clearing cam. This auxiliary cam 43 will complete the raising of this needle to the inactive level and the second course knitted on that oscillation of the machine will be knitted on the remainder of the group of active needles. There is a similar clearing cam 44 adjacent the right-hand feed.

On the last forward or run-down stroke of the widening segments of the heel or toe, the lifter pick cams 46, 41 are brought into full action by turning of the disk 49 counterclockwise. As a result the left-hand inner lifter pick 652 will be raised by the first needle of the active segment to inactive position. In this position it will be out of the path of the needles during the leg and foot. This action resets the outer pick for subsequent operations. The right-hand inner lifter pick 653 does not need to be raised out of action because the needles will be clearing over the top of the right-hand stitch cam I in round-andround knitting and therefore will pass over the inner lifter pick 653 as it rests in the set-back of the right-hand clearing cam I.

It will be seen that the above embodiment illustrates machines in which the needles, after knitting at a first feed, rise to clear under the third stitch-drawing surface before riding down the fourth surface to form a second course of knitting, and that there are means to move the leading needle to inactive position before the needles ride down at th even feed or feeds.

It is desired to point out that by having two lifter picks at each feed point and so arranging the means which control them that one of them can be prevented from lifting any needles out of action while the other of the pair continues to lift needles out of action, it is possible to get a tremendous variety of widened segments of fabric in a heel or toe. and segments obtainable by this feature when the parts are so manipulated during the making of a widened or narrowed segment is much greater than the variety obtainable in single-feed reciprocatory knitting and gives improved sutures. 1

By means of the extra lip on the outer lifter picksor, for that matter, on the inner lifter picksit is possible to vary the number of needles lifted out of action. If an extra needle is added between widening and narrowing, it will determine which of the pair of courses thrown down into action by the dropper will have its beginning at the front of the returned needles. This would stagger the courses in the narrowed and widened segments. This is desirable as it affects the closeness of the gored suture.

Obviously a machine may have double-lip inner lifter picks such as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 13, in combination with the idling of those picks as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, if desired to produce any particular picking sequence. The combined mechanism for this at the right feed is shown in Fig. 16. It consists of the parts shown in Fig. 7 plus a swivelled lifter pick cam 64 with eccentric adjusting button 65 and a link 66 to a third disk 61 on the post 26. There is a wire link 68 to the pattern drum (not shown). With such a structure the picking can be varied and the courses in the narrowed and widened segments staggered at will so as to give any desired variations in the suture or even produce a suture with a pattern. Thus one might start the suture by picking one needle up out of action with the outer picks, leaving the inner picks out of action. The next step would be to bring the inner picks into action and The selection of sutures pick one needle at each of the inner and outer picks. One might then shift the positions of the outer picks so that while the inner picks continue to lift one needle out of action the outer picks take two needles out of action and, for a final step, pick two needles up out of action at each inner and outer lifter pick.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a modified form of inner lifter pick. In the other figures of the drawings the free ends of the lifter picks all terminate behind the flats 1, 8 of the central clearing cams I, 2 and rest on the shoulder behind those flats. In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 the inner ends of the inner picks 656, 651 project completely across the upper ends of the central clearing cams and rest in notches 59, 80. As can be seen in Fig. 10, these notches are on the side of the central clearing cams away from the double center cam 50, leaving short portions 6| of the top or flat of the clearing cam unimpaired and with the lip 20 on the level with this portion 6| of the flat. Thus it will be seen that needle butts riding up the clearing cams 62, 63 from the side toward the double center stitch cam 50 will ride into the usual notch 6 or 3 onto the portion SI of the fiat and into the lip 20. The curved back of the free end of the lifter picks will help in avoiding damage to the machine if at any stage in the knitting while the lifter pick is in this lower or operative position a needle should rise up one of the center clearing cams from the outer side, come into the set-back 5 or 4 and contact the back edge of the pick.

Having set forth examples of my novel structure, I will now list some of the picking sequences obtainable by their use. By proper interrelation of the sizes of the lips on the picks, the changes in the lips presented to the needle butts being raised out of action or lowered into action and the variation in the number of lifter picks in action at various times in the knitting cycle, almost any desired interrelation of the narrowed and widened segments or any length of suture can be obtained.

First referring to typical sequences obtainable by my invention in which the net number of needles changed during the narrowing or widening is two needles, I start, of course, with the sequence in which each lifter pick lifts one needle out of action on each oscillation during narrowing. When widening is reached, the inner and outer lifter picks continue in action, lifting one needle out, and the dropper pick pulls four needles down into action on each oscillation. In this way the net change in both narrowing and widening is kept at two needles.

The above sequence can be varied as follows. During narrowing each lifter pick will lift one needle out of action, making a total of two for each oscillation. During widening the inner lifter picks will be thrown out of action as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and the dropper pick, either by change in the size of the lips or by varying its position with relation to the approaching needle butts, will bring three needles into action on each oscillation. This will make a net change of two needles brought into action by the dropper pick for each two courses, i. e., for each oscillation.

In some cases a suture of shorter length is considered desirable. Then a net change of three needles is indicated. To achieve this, the lifter picks of Figs. 15, 8 and 13, instead of being elevated so that the needle butts meet only the lower lip, will be left in their lowermost position and one needle will be raised on each lip of the outer picks. The inner pick will raise one needle, as shown in these same figures, making a total of three needles raised out of action on each oscillation during narrowing.

During widening the swivelled cam piece will raise the outer lifter picks so that only the lower lip is engaged by the needle butts and therefore only two needles will be raised out of action on each two courses, namely, one on the outer lifter pick and one on the inner lifter pick. At the same time the dropper pick 680 will have lips on it such that it will drop five needles into action on each oscillation. This leaves a net of three needles brought into action during widening for each two courses, giving a shorter suture than in the previous examples.

A variant of the above picking sequence for the short suture but which also gives a suture of a short length, is one in which the narrowing operation is the same as in the previous sequences but the dropper pick will bring only four needles back into action. To compensate for this reduction in the number of needles brought back into action so as to leave the net number at three, the inside lifter picks will be completely thrown out of action, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Since the outer lifter picks lift only one needle out of action on each oscillation, the net total drawn down into action during widening is three, the same as were thrown out of action during narrowing.

Another variant of these short suture sequences is to have the outer lifter picks raise two needles out of action on each oscillation and the inner picks one during narrowing. During widening the dropper pick brings five needles down into action, the inner lifter picks will be thrown out of action entirely and the outer picks will pick up two needles. This gives the same net of three needles but in a different manner so that the interloping at the suture is different.

It will therefore be noted that while the first sequence described is exactly the same as in a single-feed gusset heel, my novel mechanism makes it possible for the first time to produce a two-feed heel almost identical in structure at the suture with a single-feed heel. It will also be noted that this has the advantage of closing up the eyelets in a two-feed heel and that if single-sided gussets are made, as in the Sheppard Patent No. 2,388,549, above mentioned, my structure has the advantages of a single-feed heel and yet it is made on a multi-feed machine.

It will further be seen that all this is obtained in a particularly advantageous way by the use of my double-pointed center stitch cam, though it should be understood that my said cam has many of its advantages if used in multi-feed machines which lack the picking sequence advantages of my structure above described. It should further be noted that the location of my inner lifter picks and the set-backs in the clearing cams, in combination with the swivelled cam pieces for eliminating the vertical component of movement of the inner lifter picks without affecting the swiveliing action of the pair of picks at any feed, is a novel feature of great value which does not interfere with any of the other needle manipulations in an independent needle hosiery machine adapted to start up from the bare needles and make a complete stocking with a turned welt. One great advantage of locating clearing cams under the stitch-drawing surfaces is the reduction in length of the space occupied 14 by the knitting cams which is thereby obtained.

I claim:

1. A circular independent needle knitting machine having a series of feed points adapted to feed yarn to knit multi-feed in both a reciprocatory and a rotary manner, there being a stitchdrawing surface at each feed point for each direction of knitting, characterized by clearing cams under several stitch-drawing surfaces, each such surface being adapted to be effective on movement of the needles in the opposite direction from that effective for the clearing cam under it, in combination with lifter pick adapted to move to inactive position the leading needle cleared at each such clearing cam.

2. A circular independent needle knitting machine characterized in that it has a series of feed points adapted to feed yarn to knit multi-Ieed in both a reciprocatory and a rotary manner and a series of two oppositely sloping stitch-drawing surfaces for each feed point, in combination with needle clearing means under the second oppositely sloping stitch-drawing surface in each direction of knitting, and means to move the leading needle to inactive position between stitch-drawing points before the needles ride down to draw the stitches at even-numbered stitch-drawing points in each direction of knitting.

3. A circular independent needle knitting machine having a series consisting of at least two feed points adapted to feed yarn to knit multifeed in both a reciprocatory manner and a rotary manner, in combination with a series consisting of two stitch-drawing surface for each feed point so constructed that needles, after knitting at a first feed point in either direction, rise toclearing under the third stitch-drawing surface before riding down the fourth surface to form a second course of knitting, and means to move the leading needle to inactive position between stitchdrawing points before the needles ride down at each even feed point.

4. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 1 in which there is a single dropper pick adapted to lower a multiplicity of needles at one time on movement in each direction.

5. A circular independent needle knitting machine according to claim 1 in which there is a group of at least three stitch cams and one of the lifter picks is located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams.

6. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multifeed reciprocatorily according to claim 1 in which there is a group of at least three stitch cams, and the stitch cam at each end of the group is shaped to clear needles when it is the leading cam and to knit when it is the last cam, the center stitch cam being shaped to knit in both directions of movement, there being a lifter pick in the path of needles rising from the center stitch cam or each of such cams on each direction of movement.

'7. A circularindependent needle knitting machine according to claim 1 in which the machine has a needle cylinder, two feeds and a group of three stitch cams, the center stitch cam being adapted to knit on movement in either direction and the two end stitch cams being adapted to knit when the movement of the needle cylinder puts them in following position but to clear needles when in the leading position, there being a lifter pick located in the path of the needle butts between the center stitch cam and each 15 end stitch cam, each lifter pick being operative on needles rising from the center cam, and two lifter picks each operative on needles passing above one end stitch cam when that cam is in th leading position.

8. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit mnlti-feed reciprocatorily characterized by the provision of at least one center stitch cam adapted to knit on each direction of movement and two end stitch cams each adapted to clear needles when in the leading position and to knit needles coming from the center cam when in the following position, in combination with two lifter picks associated with each feed point, there being on top of each end stitch cam an outer lifter pick to raise needles to idle position when the and cam is in leading position, and there being an inner lifter pick associated with each feed point adapted to pick leading needles up out of action between their passages under two stitch cams.

9. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit two feed reciprocatorily in accordance with claim 8 characterized by the provision of linkage tying together each pair of lifter picks operating between one end stitch cam and the adjacent stitch cam, whereby operation of the outer lifter pick by needle butts lowers the inner lifter pick into operative position below the said adjacent stitch cam.

10. A circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine according to claim 8 characterized in that the center stitch cam extends above the end stitch cams and in the provision of a cam surface adapted to raise each inner lifter pick above the path of needles passing under the center stitch cam when the pick is turned by contacting needle butts, whereby leading needles coming from under the center cam will be lifted above the end cam by the inner lifter pick while the following needles pass under the end cam and knit, and the outer lifter pick of the pair makes its selection from those needles coming in the other direction of movement on top of the end cam and the following needles go under the center cam and knit.

11. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily in accordance with claim 8 characterized by the provision of means whereby the inner lifter picks can be prevented from lifting any needles out of action as desired, in combination with a linkage between the picks whereby the outer lifter picks remain in action during that time.

12. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 8 characterized by the provision of links tying together the two picks at a point whereby when one lifter pick is swivelled by contact with a needle butt the other will be swivelled to its operative position, and cams to give picks lifting components when swivelled by contact with a needle, in combination with controls for at least one of the picks of each pair adapted to move the cam for that pick so as to eliminate the lifting component.

13. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily in accordance with claim 12 in which the outer lifter picks have a plurality of lips and there are means adapted to vary the operative position of the outer lifter picks to present different lips to the needles, in combination with a single dropper pick adapted to lower a multiplicity of needles at one time, whereby the courses in the narrowed and widened segments can be staggered.

14. A circular multi-feed independent needle knitting machine according to claim 8 characterized by the provision of a central clearing cam between the center cam and each end stitch cam and lower than the upper ends of the adjacent stitch-drawing surfaces of those cams, said central cam providing clearing cam surfaces located under stitch-drawing surfaces which are so sloped as to be effective on the opposite direction of movement of the needles from the effective direction of movement of the clearing cam surface, and the inner lifter picks being located on those clearing cams.

15. A circular multi-feed independent needle knitting machine according to claim 14 characterized by the provision of space between the center cam and the inner lifter picks to permit passage between the center cam and the inner lifter picks of needles coming over the adjacent leading end cam and going under the center cam.

16. A circular multi-feed independent needle knitting machine according to claim 15 characterized in that the space for needles between the center cam and an inner lifter pick is provided by a set-back in a central clearing cam underneath the center cam, and that the inner lifter pick when in its operative position is located in that set-back.

17. A circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine according to claim 16 characterized by the provision of a lost-motion linkage between each inner lifter pick and the adjacent outer lifter pick whereby passage of the leading needles over an end cam will lower the inner lifter pick of that pair into its set-back position operative for the stroke of the machine in the opposite direction.

18. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily, having at least one center stitch cam adapted to knit on each direction of movement and two end stitch cams each adapted to clear needles when in the leading position and to cause needles coming from the center stitch cam to knit when in the following position, an outer lifted pick on top of each end stitch cam to raise needles to idle position when the end cam is in leading position, and an inner lifter pick between a center stitch cam and each end stitch cam adapted to pick leading needles up out of action between their passages under the center stitch cam and the following cam; in combination with clearing cam surfaces located under the stitch-drawing surfaces of each center stitch cam, each clearing surface being so sloped as to be effective on the opposite direction of movement of the needles from the effective direction of movement of the stitch-drawing surface above it; the clearing surfaces being set back at their upper ends whereby needles descending a center stitch cam take a. different path from ascending needles and only the ascending needles contact the inner lifter picks.

19. A circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there is a cam group containing one or more center stitch cams adapted to cause needles approaching it or them from either side to knit, in combination with an end stitch cam in the cam group at either end thereof, each such end stitch cam being adapted to cause needles approaching it from the center cam side to knit and to clear needles approaching it from the other side, and a lifter pick between 17 each two cams adapted to lift out of action a needle or needles approaching from a center cam.

20., A circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine according to claim 19 in which there is present a central clearing cam between each two adjacent stitch cams, in combination with a lifter pick with each such central clearing cam adapted to lift out of action a needle or needles rising up said clearing cam from a center cam.

21. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit two feed reciprocatorily characterized by the provision of a center stitch cam adapted to knit on both directions of movement and an end stitch cam, on either side of the center stitch cam, in combination with two pairs of lifter picks, one pair operating between each end stitch cam and the center stitch cam, one pick of each pair being adapted to operate on one direction of movement and the other on the opposite direction of movement.

22. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit two feed reciprocatorily in accordance with claim 21 characterized in that in each pair of lifter picks the, one lifting needles coming toward the center stitch cam has a plurality of lips, in combination with means adapted to vary the operative position of that lifter pick to present different lips to the needles whereby the number of needles lifted at one feed can be changed without changing the number lifted at the other feed.

23. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted, to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily havinga group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each yarn feed point, one of the lifter picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams, the machine being characterized by the fact that the group of stitch cams includes at least, one center stitch cam having two oppositely sloped stitch-drawing faces, said two faces terminating at the bottom at two points separated a short horizontal distance from each other but at the same level, whereby on each direction of movement the first point met draws the stitch and the second point met acts as a knocking-over point.

24'. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 23 characterized by the fact that the distance between the two points at the bottoms of the stitch-drawing faces is approximately equal to the space of six to ten needles as they lie in the machine, whereby stitches drawn at the first point have left the robbing area before they reach the second point.

25. Av circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 23, characterized by the fact that the distance between the two points at the bottoms of the stitch-drawing faces of the center stitch cam or cams is approximately equal to the space of six to ten needles as they lie in the machine, the bottom of such center stitch cam or cams beingrelieved, upwardly between the two points at the bottom, of the stitch-drawing faces, whereby stitches drawn at the first point have left the robbing area before they reach the second point.

26. A, circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 23 in which there are clearing cams to. raise the needles immediately after passing under the center stitch cam or cams, the clearing cam surfaces being located under the stitch-drawing surfaces of the center cam, in combination with Web-holding sinkers cooperating with the needles and cam means adapted to retract the sinkers at the draw pointv of the cam, said cam means and the distance between the two points of the double stitch cam being such that the sinkers are inserted before they reach the knocking-over point of the cam, whereby unhooking of the stitches is avoided as the needles rise on a clearing cam.

2'7. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily, having a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each yarn feed, there being clearing cam surfaces under several stitch-drawing surfaces of the stitch cams, one of the lifter picks being located in the path of ascendin needle butts between each two stitch cams at the upper end of one of the stitch-drawin surfaces, there being in the stitch cam group at least one center stitch cam having two oppositely sloped stitch-drawing faces, said faces terminating at the bottom at two points separated a short horizontal distance from each other but at the same level, the bottom of the center stitch cam or cams being relieved upwardly between the two points at the bottom of the stitch-drawing faces; whereby on each direction of movement the first point met draws the stitch and the second point met acts as a knocking-over point.

28. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams, there being two end stitch cams and at least one center stitch cam in the group, each center stitch cam having two oppositelysloped stitch-drawing faces, said two faces terminating at the bottom at two points separated a short horizontal distance from each other but at the same level, there being a relieved portion between the points, whereby on each direction of movement the first point met by the needles draws. the stitch and the second point met acts as a knocking-over point.

29. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 28 characterized by the fact that the bottom of each center stitch cam is relieved upwardly between the two points at thebottoms of the stitch-drawing faces.

30. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 28 characterized by the fact, that the distance between the two points at the bottoms of the stitch-drawing faces is approximately equal. to the space of six to ten needles as they lie in the machine, whereby stitches drawn at the first point have left the robbing area before they reach the second point.

31. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted, to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 28 in which there are clearing cams to raise the needles immediately after passing, under the center stitch cam or cams, in, combination with web-holding sinkers cooperating with the needles and cam means adapted to retract the sinkers in advance of their reaching the draw or first point of the cam encountered, and to. insert the sinkers later, said cam means and the distance between the two points of the double stitch cam. being such that the sinkers are inserted immediately after they reach the knocking-over or second point of the aeaaaes l9 cam, whereby unhooking of the stitches is avoided as the needles rise on a clearing cam.

32. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 28 characterized by the facts that the bottom of each center stitch cam is relieved upwardly between the two points at the bottoms of the stitch-drawing faces and that the distance between the two points is sufflciently great so that stitches drawn at the first point have left the robbingarea before they reach the second point.

33. A circular independent needle knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed reciprocatorily according to claim 28 characterized by the facts that the bottom of each center stitch cam is relieved upwardly between the two points at the bottoms of the stitch-drawing faces and that the distance between the two points is approximately equal to the space of six to ten needles as they lie in the machine, whereby stitches drawn at the first point have left the robbing area before they reach the second point.

34. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular independent needle multi-feed knitting machine, the steps of knitting a plurality of courses in immediate succession on a single oscillation in one direction, during which oscillation needles are raised to clear level under the stitch-drawing surfaces at at least certain of the feeds, and simultaneously moving selected needles out of action before each knitting wave, whereby a multiplicity of courses of fabric narrowed at each course are produced in a. single oscillation of the machine.

35. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular independent needle multi-feed knittin machine, the steps of knitting a plurality of courses in immediate succession on a single oscillation in one direction, during which oscillation needles are raised to clear level under and between the stitch-drawing surfaces at at least certain of the feeds, and causing a leading needle or needles before each knitting wave to take yarn and then be put out of action without knitting said yarn, whereby a multiplicity of courses of fabric narrowed at each course are produced in a single oscillation of the machine.

36. In a method of producing tapered fabric on a circular independent needle multi-feed knitting machine having stitch-drawing surfaces effective in both directions for reciprocatory knitting, the steps of knitting a plurality of courses in immediate succession on a single oscillation while clearing the needles under stitch-drawing surfaces after the first course knit in one direction and simultaneously picking needles up out of action before each knitting wave, whereby a multiplicity of courses of fabric narrowed at each course are produced in a single oscillation of the machine.

37. In a method of producing tapered fabric on a circular independent needle multi-feed knitting machine, the steps of knitting a plurality of courses in immediate succession on a single oscillation in one direction and simultaneously picking needles up out of action before each knitting wave, repeating these steps a plurality of times, thus producing a fabric segment narrowed at each course, and thereafter knitting off in one course all the needles picked out of action during narrowing, whereby a single-sided suture without eyelets is produced in multi-feed fabric.

38. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular independent needle knitting machine having stitch-drawing surfaces effective in both directions for reciprocatory knitting adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair 01' picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams, the steps of making a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of two courses on each movement in each direction while picking one needle out of action before each course, then makin a widened segment by continued oscillation and continuing to pick one needle out of action before each course and picking four needles down into action at one point only during each movement in either direction, whereby the net change at each end of each 0scillation is two needles both in the narrowed and the widened segments of the pocket.

39. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair of picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams, the steps of making a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of two courses on each movement in each direction while picking two needles out of action at one course and one needle out of action at the other course, and then making a widened segment by picking a multiplicity of needles into action as a group at one point only during each oscillation and picking out of action on each such oscillation a number of needles less than the number thrown into action by the number put out of action during an oscillation while narrowing.

40. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair of picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch earns, the steps of making a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of a pinrality of courses on each oscillation in each direction while picking one or more needles out of action at each course, and then making a widened segment by continued oscillation and drawing a multiplicity of needles down into action at one point only during each oscillation and simultaneously picking needles up out of action, the net number of needles picked into action on each oscillation durin widening being equal to the number picked out of action on each oscillation during narrowing.

41. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair of picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between ea h two stitch cams, the steps of makin a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of two courses on each movement in each direction while picking one or more needles out of action before each course, and then making a widened segment by picking one or more needles out of action before every other course and picking a group of needles into action at one point only during each movement in each direction, whereby the net change at each end of each oscillation is the same number of needles in both the narrowed and the widened segments of the pocket.

42. In a method of producing a narrowed and. widened pocket on a circular knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair of picks beinglocated in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams, the steps of making a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of two courses on each movement in each direction while picking one needle out of action before each course, and then making a widened segment by picking one needle out of action before every other course and picking three needles into action as a group at one point only during each movement in each direction, whereby the net change at each end of each oscillation is two needles in both the narrowed and the widened segments of the pocket.

43. In a method of producing a narrowed and widened pocket on a circular knitting machine adapted to knit multi-feed in a reciprocatory 22 manner in which there are a group of at least three stitch cams and two lifter picks associated with each feed and each pick being adapted to act on a movement opposite to that of its companion, one of each pair of picks being located in the path of ascending needle butts between each two stitch cams, the steps of making a narrowed segment by oscillatory knitting of two courses on each movement in each direction while picking two needles out of action at one course and one needle out of action on the other course, and then making a widened segment by picking one needle out of action before every course and picking five needles into action as a group at one point only during each movement in each direction, whereby a suture is produced which has a net change of three needles at each end of each oscillation in both the narrowed and the widened segments of the pocket.

ROBERT H. LAWSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 131,144 Arnold Sept. 10, 1872 2,178,911 Lawson Nov. 7, 1939 2,290,147 Booton July 14, 1942 2,388,649 Sheppard Nov. 6, 1945 2,440,280 Lawson Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 258,600 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1927 

